26 Established 1961 Sports Wednesday, April 10, 2019 Australia can be surprise package at WCup: Gregan Australia has ability to score points as they have world class players SAPPORO: Australia’s most capped player George WELSH EXAMPLE Gregan has backed the Wallabies to surprise a few He also pointed to the consistency shown by people at this year’s Rugby World Cup if they can Australia’s World Cup Pool D opponents Wales in overcome the inconsistencies that have plagued their recent winning run, which included winning the them for the last three years. Six Nations Grand Slam last month. “You have a team The Wallabies endured their worst test campaign like Wales, who have won 14 in a row... all the funda- in 60 years in 2018, winning four out of 13 matches mentals of their game are sound and together but the and slumping to sixth in the world rankings. Wallabies team haven’t had that for a while,” said However, former scrumhalf Gregan, who scored 99 Gregan. “I think they (Australia) have just been incon- points in 139 internationals, believes Michael sistent, really inconsistent. They have shown glimpses Cheika’s men can peak come tournament time in of what they can do... “The ability to score points is in September, just as they did in 2015 when they that group because they have some world class play- reached the final. ers; Will Genia, Israel Folau, Samu Kerevi is develop- “They do have time in a World Cup year, which is ing into a really good international centre. a unique year. It is about getting it right when you “You can see parts of their game improving, but get over here,” said Gregan in an interview with they haven’t put it all together at the same time for an Reuters in Sapporo. “I just see the margins now, extended period and that is what consistent, good particularly amongst the top eight teams, getting teams do.” Gregan, who won the 1999 World Cup smaller and smaller. with Australia, has seen his country reach the final on “They can flip that switch, they have that in four occasions and said they might even enjoy being them.” However, Gregan, who is in Japan in his role seen as underdogs later this year. “We like going to as ambassador for World Cup sponsor Land Rover, international competitions and especially if the warned that Cheika’s men will have to show Wallabies are a little bit under the radar then they can improvement in the reduced Rugby Championship go about their work and do a good block of training... that begins in July to then be serious contenders at then they will think why not?,” he said. “Sure, we have the right time. been inconsistent for three years but it is a seven “It’s about getting it right on the day and if you week tournament and it is a special animal, the Rugby HONG KONG: Retired Australian rugby union player George Gregan (R) in front of fans on the second day at the Hong are a little bit off, you are out. That is the Rugby World Cup.” The World Cup begins in Tokyo on Sept. Kong Sevens rugby tournament on April 6, 2019. — AFP World Cup,” the 45-year-old said. 20 when hosts Japan face Russia. — Reuters Warner continues to Cane returns from score heavily in IPL, broken neck, gets but slip costs match All Blacks boost HYDERABAD: David Warner continued to blaze his way through the Indian Premier League with the bat WELLINGTON: Sam Cane has been cleared to but his misfield helped Kings XI Punjab to a dramat- return to contact training after breaking a bone in ic victory over his Sunrisers Hyderabad on Monday. his neck and received another boost when he was The aggressive opener scored 70 not out from 62 invited to a one-day All Blacks camp, suggesting balls for the Sunrisers, confirming his strong form the flanker is still in coach Steve Hansen’s Rugby ahead of his expected return to the Australia team World Cup thoughts. for the 50-overs World Cup in England and Wales. Cane had to have an operation in South Africa It was his third half century in six matches and after sustaining the injury playing against the extended his hold at the top of the IPL run-scoring Springboks in Pretoria last October and the 27- table with 349 runs at an average of 87.25. year-old has not played since. However, his He has scored a century in addition to the three Waikato Chiefs coach Colin Cooper told reporters half centuries, indicating there is little rust in his in Hamilton that he had been cleared for contact, game despite the one-year international ban for his just in time for the All Blacks’ first ‘foundation day’ part in the Newlands ball-tampering scandal. next Monday in Wellington. The suspension ended on March 29 and the 32- The one-day camp, where the players undergo year-old is all but certain to be included in fitness testing and hold planning meetings, is one of Australia’s squad for the May 31-July 14 World Cup three the All Blacks coaches have scheduled during when it is announced this week. While Warner batted the Super Rugby season as they fine tune plans for the entire 20 overs of Hyderabad’s innings, tight the World Cup in Japan later this year. bowling and muggy conditions in Mohali meant he MOHALI: Sunrisers Hyderabad batsman David Warner (L) looks on after playing a shot as Kings XI Punjab wick- One for players based in the North Island will was required to work hard as he guided his side 150 et keeper K. L. Rahul (R) fields during the 2019 Indian Premier League (IPL) Twenty20 cricket match between be held in Auckland on May 20, with another for for four. Kings XI Punjab and Sunrisers Hyderabad at the Punjab Cricket Association Stadium in Mohali. — AFP South Island-based players in Christchurch on India opener KL Rahul’s 71 not out then led the June 3. New Zealand Rugby Head of High Kings XI to a six-wicket victory with a ball to spare. Performance Mike Anthony said in a media Hyderabad did well to force the game into a final nine from Mohammad Nabi’s first four deliveries Punjab are third in the IPL standings with four release that the “... foundation days will provide over by taking three quick wickets for eight runs in before Rahul hit the ball to Warner at long on. wins from six matches, trailing Kolkata and Chennai, an opportunity for All Blacks management and just 12 balls, leaving Punjab needing 11 runs from the Warner fumbled it then slipped over on the dewy who have both played only five games, on net run our leading players to start building towards what last six. surface as he went to retrieve it, allowing Rahul and rate. Hyderabad are fourth with three wins and three is a huge year ahead”. — Reuters Rahul and England all-rounder Sam Curran scored Curran to scamper through for the victory. losses. — Reuters mer England fly-half Danny Cipriani Buttler ends ‘Mankad’ English rugby added: “Never in doubt my brother.” Wade was regarded as one of the most devastat- Consistency key ing finishers in English rugby during his row with Ashwin star Wade to club career but found opportunities to represent England at international level for dangerous WI NEW DELHI: England’s Jos Buttler has declared an end pursue NFL limited. to his showdown with Indian spinner Ravichandran Although he earned a call-up as a at World Cup: Lara Ashwin after being dismissed by a “Mankad” runout in replacement on the 2013 British and Irish the Indian Premier League. dream with Bills Lions tour of Australia, he was largely The Rajasthan Royals star had a heated exchange with ignored by various coaches, the final straw MUMBAI: West Indies are replete with match-winners but consistency the captain of Kings XI Punjab after being run out at the NEW YORK: Former England and Wasps coming when he was overlooked from a will be key to their success in English conditions at this year’s World Cup, non-striker’s end while backing up in an incident that wing Christian Wade has signed for the 50-man training squad for the 2015 World batting great Brian Lara has said. Teeming with tearaway fast bowlers sparked an international debate on the “spirit of cricket”. Buffalo Bills as he pursues his dream of Cup by then-coach Stuart Lancaster. and aggressive batsmen, West Indies were once considered invincible Buttler told the Times of India he had looked at replays forging a career in the NFL, the team Wade is aiming to follow the example of and won the opening two editions of the World Cup in 1975 and 1979. and was sure he should not have been given out, “But it’s announced on Monday. Wade shocked other English rugby players who have Their glory days, however, are long over and the twice winners had to all done now and I have moved on.” The dismissal, named English rugby last year after announcing joined NFL teams through the pathway go through a qualifying tournament to book their spot in the 10-team after former India player Vinoo Mankad, is legal but is his plans to switch sports and find a place program, notably former England Sevens tournament in England and Wales. seen by many as unsporting unless the batsman has been with a gridiron team.